Preparing for Thanksgiving

I really try to emphasize to the kids to be thankful all year long- but it is nice to just be deliberate in saying out loud what we are thankful for. This morning, on the way to work and school....I asked the kids what they were specifically thankful for this past year. Kase, (who seriously has the kindest heart) was thankful for his teacher Mrs. Kim. She is the best best teacher to him. In his exact words. Then, he proceeded to name the rest of his teachers and family members. Kinlee listed 55 people (at random) she was thankful for....and Kruz...well, he was thankful for the lucky charms he ate for breakfast. We will get there with him :)

We had a busy weekend!!! Saturday we went around the square downtown to the local shops and did a Christmas bazarre. We saw Santa and some beautiful things. These are some of our best friends...

 On Saturday evening, Josh and Kinlee went to a daddy/daughter hoedown at the high school. It was her first daddy/daughter dance and she had the best time. She looks at the picture they got that I put on the fridge every single day and tells me how she just had the best night. They played games, crafted and danced to the "wobbly wobbly"....lol

While Josh and Kinlee were "cutting a rug" I got to keep my sweet nephew, Beckham, for the night!! He is the best baby with the best personality!! I loved all the moments I got with him and Kruz and Kase really enjoyed having him too. (I could totally do 4, can I get an Amen?)

On Sunday it was interesting to get all 4 kids and myself fed, ready and to church on time (without the help of hubs)...we made it with 1 minute to spare. Shewwww. The service was great and so was Beckham! After church we hung at mamaw and papaw's while Josh was gone to the Colt's game with work (he left at 7 am and got home at 9 pm). Kruz insisted he sit just like papaw..this cracked me up.  

The kids were dying to see Josh, he had been gone "allllllllllllllll day", so I let them stay up to see him...they were clean and so excited. 

Blessed and thankful that God allows me to be the keeper of these three kids. Praying I raise them in his ways. It was a pretty amazing weekend- but we did miss Dad!!

Africa 2014

This past September, I was blessed to have been able to go with our church (SFBC) on a 2 week mission trip to Ghana, Africa. We have paired with "Seed Ministry; Bob & Bonnie Parker", and have gone along side them as they grow their ministry in Northern Ghana for the last 10 years. We have seen God's hand just blossom this ministry and all the work done is in his name to glorify the kingdom. I was able to go with some of the greatest team members ever! God used all of us in mighty ways in Africa and even some way back home. Just wanted to share some photos that are near to my heart.

Striving to Grow.......

Life is busy. Life is busy with a husband and three kids. Personally, I've been trying to carve more time out for God, and for genuine quality time with my family. It's hard. I want to grow spiritually and make special memories with my kids. I actually crave it. I want to grow as a wife and a mother. Maybe it's because I'm 30 this year or maybe I am just ready for a more "mature" phase in my life. I'm excited to see what God has in store. Don't get me wrong, I know this is going to come with obstacles, struggles and feeling uncomfortable. We grow in those moments. 

 

The last few weeks/months have been a whirlwind of emotion as my earthly father went up to be with my heavenly father on September 21st. He was diagnosed with stage 4 Liver/Lung cancer on Sept 4th was given 3-6 months to live per the oncologist. A quick 17 days later, he was taken home. The Ultimate Healing. It wasn't the healing I had wanted, but I knew if it was his time to go..my prayer was it be as pain free and quick as possible.  I miss him. I miss him a lot. I think to myself, I have been growing spiritually through this loss because, what else is there? What is the alternative? God is it. He's all I have that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that is 100% certain. That is a hard truth. I have an amazing husband and three children that I call my own...but really they aren't. God has entrusted me this brief time on Earth with these gifts and he can take them home whenever he wants. My prayer, for you the reader is that you realize that this life is but a vapor. I have friends who didn't understand how I handled this loss with such peace and grace...well I didn't. God did...through me. I now have lost both my mom and dad...it feels terribly unfair to me...but to wish them to be down on earth instead of where they are.....it's selfish. I am selfish. I'm human. I want them here...but know they are SO much better off where they are. I have a great peace going into the holidays and I know this is going to be a hard time for my family and step mama, but God is always faithful. He will see us through. Until I see you again dad....